The Portland daily press., 1887-09-15
JUST ONE CENT LEFT
A Debtor of Portland Banks Returns
After Six Years Absence.
The Banks Lose over SIS, 1000 from
His MIsdoing.

John F. Mahon, of the once famous shoe
firm of John Mahon & Sons of Lynn, was
several years ago failed in business for up
wards of $2OO,OoO or more. and who with his
brother Edward fled the State to avoid de-
frauded creditors, arrived in Salem at II
o'clock Tuesday, footsore and weary, to sur
render himself with just one cent in his
pocket, having walked all the way from New
York. He said he was in Montreal, Canada,
for short time and then came to New York.
There he met with business reverses and
went down until he had lost nearly all he
had. He determined to return to Massachu-
sets and to face the music. The firm Of
John Mahon q Sons was formed in 1878 or
70, the father being silent partner to all
intents and purposes. The notes of the firm
went to protest in October, 1881, and the
downfall of the house followed quickly,
creating an intense excitement. The total
liabilities were S23O.554.54. Among the
heaviest creditors were the Pacific National
Bank Of Boston for three claims of S14,914.-
&c, $40, 00S.24, 7,47767, total of S44, 4O027;
National Traders Bank of Portland, S.
1882; First National of Portland S2,551.1s;
Merchants Bank, Portland, $7.624.77. The
concern was speedily put into insolvency,
and, in 1883, dividend of per cent. was
declared and paid for the benefit of the
creditors. The firm claimed as notes pay
able, $33, 466; accounts payable, $27,277; a
total of $6O,473, and net surplus in bust
ness of $l01.O11.S2 1t had real estate bought
in 1872 amounting to .$35, 100, on which there
is now mortgage of $35, 100.
MalOD told the history 0f his life I'm
October s, 1881, between two days, John Il.
MahOn left Lynn with his brother for Mon
treal. At Montreal they stayed at the Wind
son Hotel. The understanding that John
Mahon had with his brother was that they
should, after a short stay in Montreal, re-
turn to Lynn and fight the matter out After
staying in Montreal week, John wanted to
come home. His brother put him off with
promises and at the end Of three months,
John becoming disguised with the repeated
promises, quarreled with his brother and
left Montreal for England. He arrived in
London in December, 1888. He secured an
engagement with French gentleman as a
private secretary, remaining with him for
eighteen months, travelling on the continent
for much Of the time and spending six
months in Italy, three months of the time
being spent in and around Naples. At the
end OF his term OF service as private secretary
he received strong letter of recommended
ton from his employer. Mahon's next VEN
ture was in Journalism. He secured posi-
fion as reporter on the London Daily Echo,
half-penny paper, and remained in that
position for three months. AT the close of
his journalistic work he got place in a
wholesale drug store, and remained there
for the balance of his stay in London, two
years and half in ALL
On the 9th of July, 1884, he started for
New York and arrived in August He stay
ed in New York till the November elections
and then, being penniless, shipped aboard
the steamer Colorado of the Mallory Line to
work his passage to Galveston, Tex. He
looked In vain for work in Galveston and
went to town called r LeradO. near the
Mexican line Here, by his knowledge of
Spanish, he got place in dry goods store.
he was there month, then went over into
Mexico, where he found living teaching
Spanish to American railroad men and ped
ding sewing machines. He spent yeaF in
Mexico, varying the above employments by
teaching French to the Mexicans.
All this time he had wished to return to
the States, but his brother, by repeated prom
Uses, kept him off, till at last he determined
interview. Arriving in Montreal, his BROTH
er, who had never intended to return, fatty
refused to keep his promise, and started for
Manitoba. Left to himself, without cent
John Mahon went to work for III. A. Wilder
q Co., spring bed manufacturers, as book
keeper, at $3.50 a week. He worked at book
keeping there till the latter part of March of
this year. He then fell sick with typhoid fe-
yer anu iOSL MS place. altn0ugn lie received
good recommendation.
On recovering, he concluded to come to the
States. He walked the first 70 miles, rode
on freight trains to Whitehall, worked on a
cattle train to Albany, and got enough to
carry him to New York. He applied for
work at the Bowery branch of the Young
Mems Christian Association In New York,
secured place as laborer In Tiffany's Jewell
ry manufactorv at 81 week, worked there
four weeks then, finding the work too hard,
left, and for three weeks was penniless in
the streets Of New York. He then worked
week as waiter in restaurant.
In Montreal he had an interview with
large creditor, who thought there would be
no great danger in his coming to Massachu-
sets. He had communication with Massa-
chusetts during his stay in New York, and
as he could find no report of an indictment,
started away to see for himself what could
be done. He walked all the way, spending
two weeks on the road.
Mahon says that his brother Edward got
every cent OF the money, and lived on it for
five years in Montreal.
The newspaper reports of the brothers
extravaganza living in Montreal gave him
considerable amusement. He saws that
while he was in London, without decent
overcoat in the middle of winter, he read in
an American paper that he was In Montreal
dressed in the rarest furs. He described his
brother as very economical, boarding at or.
binary houses at So a week. Mahon's plans
are unsettled until he sees counsel